Two position switch



March 6, 1962 R. MAHER TWO POSITION SWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March17, 1960 IN V EN TOR. [P035 1P7 4. M14195? March 6, 1962 R. L. MAHER3,024,332

TWO POSITION SWITCH Filed March 17, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United StatesPatent Ofitice 3,024,332 Patented Mar. 6, 1962 3,024,332 TWO POSITIONSWITCH Robert L. Maher, Brewster, N.Y., assignor to Donald P. Mossman,lnc., Brewster, N.Y., a corporation of Illinois Filed Mar. 17, 1960,Ser. No. 15,633 11 Claims. (Cl. 200-153) The present invention relatesto an improved latch mechanism and more particularly a latch mechanismfor alternately latching and releasing a reciprocating element uponsuccessive actuations of the element.

While the latching mechanism of the present invention may have otherapplications, it is particularly useful with push-button switches.Conventional push-button switches have contacts which are engaged whenthe push-button is depressed and disengaged when the push-button isreleased. Two position push-button switches have heretofore beenprovided for closing and holding switch contacts closed and opening theswitch contacts on successive actuations of push-buttons. One well knownform of two position switch includes two push-buttons, one for closingthe contacts and one for opening the contacts. Another known form of twoposition switch includes a gang of push-button switches with a commonlatch for holding one push button depressed and actuated to release thedepressed push-button when the push-button of another switch isdepressed.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an improvedlatching mechanism for alternately latching and releasing areciprocating element upon successive manual actuations of the element.

Another object is to provide an improved latching mechanism of the typeindicated which is particularly resistant to unintentional release ofthe reciprocating element by shock or vibration.

Another object is to provide a latching mechanism of the type indicatedin which the plunger may have any desired length of stroke and a shortre-set stroke to release the plunger.

Another object is to provide an improved latching mechanism for theplunger of a push-button switch in which the latching and releasing ofthe push-button is not affected by a lateral or longitudinal load on thepushbutton.

Still another object is to provide a latching mechanism of the typeindicated which is of relatively simple and compact construction,economical to manufacture and one which is reliable in operation toalternately latch and release a plunger on successive actuations of theplunger.

These and other objects will become more apparent from the followingdescription and drawings in which like reference characters denote likeparts throughout the several views. It is to be expressly understood,however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only, andare not a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being hadfor this purpose to the appended claims.

In the drawings.

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a gang of two positionpush-button switches incorporating the novel latching and releasingmechanism of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 22 of FIGURE 1 toshow one relationship of the switch plunger and mechanism for' latchingand releasing the plunger;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIGURE 1 to show therelationship between the plunger of the push-button switch and latchplate of the latching and releasing mechanism;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the parts of the latchingmechanism in extended relation;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view of line 5-5 of FIG- URE 3 and showing theposition of the latch plate when the push-button is released;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIGURE 5 to show theposition of the switch plunger and contacts in the initial releasedposition of the switch plunger;

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 5 showing the latch plate rocked tolatching position upon the depression of the switch plunger;

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURES 5 and 7 showing the shouldersonthe latch plate in latching engagement with the latch upon release ofthe switch plunger;

FIGURE 9 is a view similar to FIGURE 6 and showing the position of theswitch the plunger is latched in its other position.

FIGURE 10 is a view similar to FIGURE 8 showing the latch plate movedlaterally to engage its other seat with the stationary pivot pin androcked to releasing position by the next depression of the plunger; and

FIGURE 11 is a view similar to FIGURE 10 showing the floating latchplate being cammed laterally by the abutment pin on the slide to movethe latch plate laterally to its initial position illustrated in FIGURE5 during the return stroke of the plunger.

For purposes of illustration, the latching mechanism of the presentinvention is shown applied to switches of a gang switch assembly havinga supporting frame 12. As shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, the frame 12is inthe form of a metal plate 13 for supporting the elements of theplurality of switches and folded to provide a narrow right angularsection 14 for mounting the frame and switch assemblies thereon in a boxor on a panel. The plurality of separate switches 15, 15' and 15" aremounted on one side of the plate 11 in side-by-side relation and eachhas a push-button 16, 16 and 16", respectively. While three switches 13are illustrated in FIGURE 1 any desired number of switches may bemounted on the frame 12, or the frame may mount only a single switch.

As shown most clearly in FIGURE 2, each switch 15 comprises a plunger 18having the push-button 16 at one end which projects through an openingin the mounting section 14 of the frame and a stem 19 at its other endprojecting into a guide opening in a block 20. Block 20 is mounted onone side of frame plate 13 and a spring 21 acts between a shoulder 22 onthe plunger 18 and the top of the block 20. Thus, spring 21 yieldinglyholds the plunger 18 in one position and a collar 23 on the plunger 18engages the right angular section 14 of the frame to limit its movement,but yields to permit the plunger to be moved to its other depressedposition. Plunger 18 has an axle pin 24 extending therethroughparallelwith the frame plate 13 and mounts rollers 25 at its end whichroll on the side of the frame plate 13 as the plunger-18 isreciprocated.

Each switch 15 has a plurality of pairs of spring contacts 26 and 27,etc. mounted on the block 20 in spaced relation to each other withinsulating spacers 28 therebetween. Contacts27 are longer than thecontacts 26 and are coupled together at their projecting ends byinsulating connecting sleeves 29 for movement as a unit relative to theswitch contacts 26. A spring arm 30 similar to long contacts 27 ismounted in the block 20 adjacent the plunger 18, connected to the longcontacts by a sleeve 29 and has an offset abutment 31 for actuation bythe plunger. Therollers 25 on the switch plunger 28, or similar rollersthereon, engage the offset abutment 31 on spring arm 30 and move theplurality of switch contacts 27 relative to the switch contacts 26 whenthe plunger is manually depressed to operating position and pins on theslide and frame;

plunger and contacts when release the abutment and switch contacts whenthe plunger is moved to its initial or released position by the spring21. The pairs of switch contacts 26 and 27 may be normally engaged andactuated to open position when the plunger is depressed, or the switchcontacts may be normally closed and moved to open position by theplunger, or certain of the pairs of contacts may be opened while othersare closed. The switch as thus far described is a known construction asmanufactured by the assignee of the present invention.

In accordance with the present invention an improved latching andreleasing mechanism is shown applied to each switch to alternately latchthe reciprocating plunger 18 in its depressed operative position andrelease the plunger for return to its first position upon successiveactuations of the push-button 16. In other words, the plunger 18 of eachswitch 15 is held in alternate on and off positions by successivereciprocations of its push-button 16. In the illustrated embodiment, thelatching mechanism 32 is shown on the opposite side of the frame plate13 from the plunger 18 and as having a separate slide connected to andactuated by the plunger, but it will be understood that the latchingmechanism may be mounted on the same side of the frame plate 11 as theplunger and actuated directly from the plunger.

In the embodiment illustrated the latching mechanism 32 is mounted in ahousing 33 having a cover plate 34 parallel with and spaced from theframe plate 13 and a right angular peripheral flange engaging the frameplate. Housing 33 is attached to the frame plate 13 by screws 35.Projecting inwardly from the cover plate 34 of the housing 33 are a pairof pins 36 and 37. Pin 36 constitutes a stationary pivot and the pin 37constitutes a stationary latching abutment. A shuttle or slide 38 ismounted to reciprocate in the housing 33 and has a pair of pins 39 and40 projecting therefrom transversely of the housing 33 and parallel withpins 36 and 37. As shown in FIGURE 3 the slide 38 of U-shaped form incross-section is arranged back to back with the frame plate 13 forsliding movement thereon and has flanges 41 on its edges adjacent theperipheral flange of the housing 33. Pin 39 on slide 38 comprises acombined latch and pivot pin while the pin 40 constitutes an abutmentfor a purpose as later explained. The slide 38 is connected to theswitch plunger 18 by the pin 39 for reciprocation therewith. Pin 39extends through both the slide and plunger and extends beyond the slideto provide the combined latch and pivot pin. Pin 39 is freely movable ina slot 42 in the frame plate 13 between the plunger 18 and slide 38.

A floating pawl or latch plate 45 is positioned in the housing 33between the slide 38 and cover plate 34 of housing and the edges of thelatch plate are also positioned between the pins 36, 37 and 39, 40 onthe housing and slide, respectively. As shown most clearly in FIG- URESl and 4, the latch plate has opposed latching shoulders 46 and 47 at oneside and a pair of laterally spaced pivot seats 48 and 49 below thelatching shoulders. The latching shoulders 46 and 47 are formed bynotched recesses cut in the edge of the latch plate 45 at one sidethereof. The recess in the edge of the latch plate 45 adjacent the lowershoulder 47 forms an abutment shoulder 51 inclined upwardly from thelatching shoulder. The latching shoulder 46 is curved to form a hook andthe side of the latch plate 45 above the latching shoulder 46 is formedto provide a flat surface 50 extending from the outer edge of thelatching shoulder. Below the shoulder 47 the edge of the latch plate hasan inwardly and downwardly inclined cam face 52 on a depending tailportion of the plate. The other side 53 of the tail portion of the camplate of the latch plate 45 forms one side of the pivot seat 48 which isseparated laterally from the other seat 49 by an inclined surface 54. Asshown in dotted lines in FIGURE 1, the stationary pivot pin 36projecting inwardly from cover plate 34 of housing 33 underlies the areaof the latch plate 45 having the pivot seats 48 and 49, and thestationary latch pin 37 overlies the side of the latch plate 45 havinglatching shoulder 47. Latch pin 39 on movable slide 38 is positionedadjacent the side of the latch plate 45 above latch pin 37 to be engagedwith and disengaged from the latching shoulder 46 on the latch plate 45,while the abutment pin 40 on the slide is positioned at the side of thedownwardly and inwardly inclined cam face 52. Also, the side of the camplate 45 facing the cover plate 34 of housing 33 has a triangular shapedrecess 55 to provide clearance for the end of a spring 58 as nextdescribed.

Spring 58 is connected between the housing 33 and latch plate 45 and hasa coiled section 59 and a straight section 60 projecting from one end ofthe coiled section. The end of spring 58 adjacent the coiled section 59is connected to an abutment 61 in housing 33, see FIGURE 5, and thestraight section is positioned on the left hand side of stationary pivotpin 36 in the recess 55 in latch plate 45 with its end secured in a hole62 in the latch plate above the seats 48 and 49. The hole 62 in latchplate 45 to which the end of the spring 58 is attached is so locatedrelative to the pivot seats 48 and 49 that when the seat 48 engages thepivot pin 36 the straight portion 60 of the spring bears against theside of the pivot pin and tends to rock the latch plate counterclockwiseto latching position as shown in FIGURES 5 and 7. When the seat 49overlies the pivot pin 36, the straight portion 60 of spring 58 is clearof the pivot pin, but applies a downward force on the latch plate 45 toengage the inclined surface 51 with stationary pivot pin 37 and rock thelatch plate clockwise as viewed in FIGURE 10, to an unlatching orreleasing position. One form of latching mechanism 32 and switch 15 towhich it is shown applied having now been described in detail the modeof operation is next explained.

Assuming for purposes of description that the switch 15 is in a firstoff position with the switch plunger 18, slide 38 and latch plate 45 inthe relative positions illustrated in FIGURE 5, the plunger 18 and itspush-buttons 16 in extended position and the switch contacts 26 releasedas shown in FIGURE 6. Also, the stationary pivot pin 36 is engaging thepivot seat 48, the straight portion 60 of spring 58 is hearing againstthe side of pivot pin 36 and tending to rock the latch plate 45counterclockwise, but the flat edge surface 50 and cam face 52 of thelatch plate 45 are bearing against the pins 39 and 40 on the slide 38,as shown in FIGURE 5. In this position of plunger 18, the rollers 25 aredisengaged from the abutment 31 on the spring arm 30 connected to thecontacts 27 to release the contacts which move to a so-called offposition of the switch 15.

When the extended push-button 16 is manually depressed from the positionillustrated in FIGURE 5 to that illustrated in FIGURE 7, the slide 38 isreciprocated with the plunger 18 through a forward stroke by itsconnection through the pivot pin 39. Movement of the plunger 18 engagesrollers 25 with the abutment 31 on spring arm 30 to move the pluralityof connected switch contacts 27 relative to the contacts 26 to aso-called on position as illustrated in FIGURE 9. As slide 38 movesrelative to the latch plate 45 the pin 40 moves along the inclined camsurface 52 of the latch plate and the pin 39 slides along the fiatsurface 50 until it overlies the recess portion. Spring 58 then rocksthe latch plate 45 to position its shoulder 46 over the latch pin 39 atwhich time the stationary pin 37 on the housing overlies the latchingshoulder 47. Upon release of the pushbutton 16 the plunger 18 and slide38 are moved by the spring 21 from the position illustrated in FIGURE 7to that illustrated in FIGURE 8. As the slide 38 tends to move upwardlythe pin 39 on the slide engages the latching shoulder 46 of the latchplate 45 and the pin 37 on housing 33 engages the latching shoulder 47.Thus,

the slide 38 and switch plunger 18 and movable switch contacts 27 arelatched in an on position.

During the upward movement of the push-button 16 and plunger 18 throughits short return stroke to engage pin 39 on slide 38 with shoulder 46 onlatch plate 45, the spring 58 acts on the latch plate 45 at the righthand side of pin 39 to rock the latch plate clockwise from the positionillustrated in FIGURE 7 to the position illustrated in FIGURE 8. Suchrocking movement of the latch plate 45 positions the inclined cam face54 on latch plate 45 over pivot pin 36.

When the push-button 16 is again depressed from the position illustratedin FIGURE 8 to that illustrated in FIGURE 10, the downward movement ofthe slide 38 releases the latch plate 45 which is moved downwardly byspring 58 and engages the inclined face 51 with stationary pin 37 whichimmediately rocks the latch plate to releasing position. Continuedmovement of latch plate 45 engages its inclined face 54 with thestationary pivot pin 36 and cams the latch plate laterally to the leftuntil the pivot pin seats in the pivot seat 49. The combined action ofspring 53, the engagement of the inclined surface 54 with pivot pin 36and the engagement of the pin 40 on slide 38 with the inclined camsurface 52 holds the latch plate in its releasing position, illustratedin FIGURE 10.

Upon release of the push-button 16 and plunger 18, spring 21 moves theplunger 18, slide 38 and latch plate 45 back to their initial offposition illustrated in FIG- URE 5. During the initial movement ofplunger 18 through its return stroke the latch plate 45 is held in thereleasing position illustrated in FIGURE 10 until pin 39 on slide 38 haspassed by the latching shoulder 46. During continued movement of slide39, the pin 40 on the slide rides along the cam surface 52 on the latchplate 45 and cams the latch plate bodily to the right as illustrated inFIGURE 11 until the pivot seat 48 is engaged with the stationary pivotpin 36. Such lateral movement of the latch plate at the end of theupward movement of the slide 38 shifts the connected end of spring 58further to the right of the pivot pin 36 so that the straight portion 60of the spring bears against the side of the pivot pin and rocks thelatch plate back to its initial position illustrated in FIGURE andengages the flat surface 50 on the latch plate with the side of thelatch pin 39 on the slide 38.

Thus, the switch is alternately latched in on position and released formovement to an off position by successive actuations of the push-button16. During the first depression of the push-button 16, the slide 38 islatched to housing. During the next depression of pushbutton 16, theslide 38' is released by the latch plate for return movement to an offposition. During such alternate strokes of the push-button 16, thefloating latch plate 45 is shifted automatically in one direction andthen in the other direction to latch the switch in an on position andrelease the switch for return to its off position.

It will now be observed that the present invention provides an improvedlatching mechanism for alternately latching and releasing areciprocating mechanism upon successive manual actuations of theelement. It will also be observed that the present invention provides alatching mechanism which is particularly resistant to unintentionalrelease of the reciprocating plunger due to shock. It will further beobserved that the present invention provides a latching mechanism havingany desired length of stroke to an on position and a short re-set stroketo release the plunger for return to an off position. It will further beobserved that the present invention provides an improved latchingmechanism for the plunger of a push-button switch in which the latchingand releasing of the switch plunger is not affected by the lateral orvertical load on the plunger. It will still further be observed that thepresent invention provides a latch- 6 ing mechanism of the typeindicated which is of relatively simple and compact construction,economical to manufacture and one which is reliable in operation toalter nately latch and release a plunger on successive actuations.

While a single embodiment of the invention is herein illustrated anddescribed, it will be understood that changes may be made in theconstruction and arrangement of the elements without departing from thespirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, without any limitation inthis respect, the invention is defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A two position push button switch having a frame, switch contactsmounted on the frame, a reciprocating plunger mounted to slide on theframe and having means for relatively moving the contacts in oneposition and releasing the contacts at another position, a push buttonfor actuating said plunger to said one position, a spring for actuatingthe plunger to said other position, and mechanism for alternatelylatching the plunger in said one position and releasing the plunger formovement to its other position on successive actuations of the pushbutton comprising a latching abutment on the plunger for movementtherewith, a latching abutment on the frame, a floating latch memberhaving spaced shoulders for engagement with the abutments on the plungerand frame, adjustable pivot means on the latch member and framecomprising a plurality of pivot seats on the latch member spaced fromeach other laterally with respect to its direction of movement by theplunger, and interengaging means on the plunger and latch member forbodily moving the latch member laterally and thereby adjusting the pivotmeans to alternately rock the latching member to latching and releasingpositions. I

2. A two position push button switch comprising a frame, a reciprocatingplunger mounted to slide on said frame, switch contacts mounted on saidframe and actuated by said plunger at one end of its stroke and releasedby the plunger at the other end of its stroke, a push button foractuating the plunger in one direction, a spring for actuating theplunger to the opposite direction, and mechanism for alternatelylatching the plunger at one end of its stroke and releasing the plungerfor movement to the other end of its stroke upon successive actuationsof the push button comprising a housing on said frame having stationarypivot and latching pins spaced from each other, a slide mounted toreciprocate in said housing and connected to said plunger for movementtherewith, said slide having a latching pin, a floating latch memberbetween the slide and housing and having spaced shoulders at one sidefor latching engagement with the latching pins on the slide and frameand separate spaced seats on its side adjacent the stationary pivot pin,a spring acting between the frame and latch member for rocking the latchmember to latching and releasing p0- sitions when the separate seats areengaged with the stationary pivot pin, respectively, and means on theslide for actuating the latch member laterally in opposite directions onsuccessive reciprocations of the slide to alternately engage theseparate seats with the stationary pivot pin.

3. A two position push button switch comprising a rame, a plungermounted to slide on said frame, switch contacts mounted on said frameand actuated by said plunger at one position and released by the plungerat another position, a push button for actuating the plunger to said oneposition, a spring for actuating the plunger to another position, a pushbutton for actuating the plunger to said one position, a spring foractuating the plunger to its said other position, and mechanism foralternately latching the plunger in said one position and releasing theplunger for movement to its other position upon successive actuations ofthe push button comprising a housing on said frame having stationarypivot and latching pins spaced from each other, a slide mounted toreciprocate in said housing and connected to said plunger for movementtherewith, said slide having latching and abutment pins projectingtherefrom in spaced relation to the pivot and latch pins on the frame, afloating latch member between the slide and housing and between thepins, said latch member having spaced shoulders for engagement with thelatching pins on the slide and frame and laterally spaced notchesforming separate seats for engaging the stationary pivot pin, a springacting between the frame and member for rocking the member to latchingposition when one seat engages the pivot pin and rocking the member toreleasing position when the other seat engages the pin, and saidlatching and abutment pins on the slide moving the latch memberlaterally in opposite directions during successive actuations of theslide to alternately engage the separate seats with the pivot pin.

4. A two position push button switch comprising a frame, a plungermounted to slide on said frame, switch contacts mounted on said frameand actuated by said plunger at one position and released by saidplunger at another position, a push button for actuating said plunger tosaid one position, a spring for actuating said plunger to said otherposition, and mechanism for alternately latching the plunger in said oneposition and releasing the plunger for movement to its other positionupon successive actuations of the push button comprising a housingmounted on the frame adjacent the plunger, a slide in said housing andconnected to said plunger, stationary pins projecting from a wall ofsaid housing in spaced relation, a pair of movable pins projecting fromsaid slide, a floating latch plate in said housing between said pins andhaving opposed shoulders at one side for latching engagement with onepair of pins on the housing and slide, respectively, a pair of laterallyspaced seats for pivotal engagement with the other stationary pin onsaid housing and a cam face between the shoulders and seats, a springhaving one end connected to the latch plate for rocking the plate tolatching position when one seat engages the pivot pin and rocking theplate to releasing position when the other seat engages the pivot pin,said latch plate rocking on said latching pin on the slide during theinitial return movement of the slide to position the other seat on thelatch plate for engagement with the pivot pin on the housing during thenext actuation of the plunger, and said other pin on the slide engagingthe cam face on the latch plate during the next return movement on theslide to move the latch plate laterally and engage the first seat withthe pivot pin.

5. A two position push button switch in accordance with claim 2 in whichthe means on the slide for moving the latch member laterally in onedirection comprises the interengaging latch pin on the slide andshoulder on the latch member constituting a pivot for the member, andthe spring acting on the latch member at one side of the pivot forrocking the member relative to the stationary pivot to align the otherseat therewith.

6. A two position push button switch in accordance with claim 5 in whichthe means for moving the latch member laterally in the oppositedirection is a cam face on the latch member and an abutment pin on theslide engaging the cam face during the return stroke of the plunger tomove the latch member laterally and position the other pivot seat inalignment with the stationary pivot pin.

7. A two position push button switch in accordance with claim 6 in whichthe latching shoulders on the floating latch plate are formed byrecesses in the edge thereof, the recess forming one shoulder having aface extending at an angle to the shoulder, the angular face adjacentthe shoulder engaging the abutment pin on the frame to limit the rockingmovement of the latch member in one direction, and the cam face on thelatch member engaging the abutment pin on the slide limiting the rockingmovement of the latch member in the other direction.

8. A two position push button switch in accordance with claim 7 in whichthe latch member has a rectangular slot in the edge of one side to formone latching shoulder, a notch in said side below the rectangular recessto provide the other latching shoulder and the angularly inclined faceadqacent the shoulder, the edge of the latch plate below the shoulderforming the cam face, and the edge of the cam plate beyond the cam facebeing recessed to provide the spaced seats.

9. A two position push button switch in accordance with claim 2 in whichthe frame comprises a plate, guide means on one side of said plate formounting the plunger for reciprocation thereon, the housing beingmounted on the other side of said plate from the plunger, the slidemounted to reciprocate on said plate in said housing, the latch pin onthe slide connecting the plunger and slide through a slot in the frameplate, and the other latching and abutment pins being mounted on andprojecting from the slide and side of the housing opposite the slide.

10. A two position push button switch in accordance with claim 9 inwhich a plurality of push button switches are mounted on one side of theframe plate, and an alternate latching and releasing mechanism for eachswitch mounted on the other side of the frame plate.

11. A two stroke latching and unlatching mechanism comprising a framehaving stationary pivot and latching pins spaced from each other, aslide mounted to reciprocate on the frame and having a laterallyprojecting latching pin, a floating latch member between the slide andframe and having spaced shoulders at one side for latching engagementwith the latching pins on the slide and frame and laterally spaced seatson the side overlying the pivot pin, a spring acting between the frameand latch members for rocking the latch member to latching position whenone seat engages the pivot pin and rocking the member to releasingposition when the other seat engages the pin, and means for moving thelatch member later ally in opposite directions during successiveactuations of the slide to alternately engage the separate seats withthe pivot pin.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,749,415 Davis June 5, 1956

